AbbVie Expands US Operations with $70M Investment in Massachusetts Facility

AbbVie, the Chicago-based pharmaceutical giant, has initiated a significant expansion of its bioresearch center in Worcester, Massachusetts, marking another milestone in its ambitious $10 billion US investment strategy. The $70 million project, announced on September 30, 2025, aims to enhance the company's biologics manufacturing capabilities and accelerate the production of oncology and immunology drugs.

Bolstering Domestic Production Capacity

The expansion in Worcester is part of AbbVie's broader commitment to grow its US operations through 2035. The project involves the construction of additional biologics manufacturing areas and a new three-story building housing a laboratory, warehouse, and office space. This strategic move is expected to expedite the transfer of certain oncology medication production from Europe to the United States.

Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, Ph.D., AbbVie's chief operations officer, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, "This investment will further expand AbbVie's biologics manufacturing capacity and position [the AbbVie bioresearch center] to build upon its impressive track record of developing, manufacturing and launching next-generation complex biologic medicines that improve the lives of millions of patients worldwide."

Job Creation and Economic Impact

While specific numbers were not disclosed, AbbVie confirmed that the Worcester expansion will create new employment opportunities. The company currently maintains a workforce of approximately 28,000 in the United States, with over 2,000 employees based in Massachusetts alone. This expansion is poised to further strengthen AbbVie's presence in the region and contribute to local economic growth.

Strategic Alignment with US Manufacturing Push

AbbVie's investment comes amid a broader trend of pharmaceutical companies increasing their domestic production capabilities. This shift has been partly influenced by the Trump administration's pharmaceutical tariff threats. In a recent development, President Trump announced via social media that starting October 1, 2025, any drugmaker not actively building facilities in the US would face a 100% tax on their imported, branded products.

The company's CFO, Scott Reents, had previously outlined plans to construct four new production plants focused on active pharmaceutical ingredients, drug products, peptides, and devices as part of the $10 billion investment strategy. In addition to the Worcester project, AbbVie recently broke ground on a $195 million API facility in North Chicago, further demonstrating its commitment to enhancing its US manufacturing footprint.